PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project, 15 Kimball Hill, presents the Next Stage Juke Joint Blues & BBQ with 2018 Blues Blast Music Award nominee Sunny Lowdown and the Ice Cream Men at the Next Stage Café on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.
As described in a news release, Sunny Lowdown - the stage name of Louis Erlanger of Brattleboro - “plays a raw, deep blues, drawing from the music of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, and R.L. Burnside.” He was only 16 years old when he played his first professional gig backing blues musician John Lee Hooker.
He has since worked with many of his favorite blues musicians: Howlin' Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters pianist Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins, Chicago blues legends Otis Rush and George “Wild Child” Butler, Fat Possum recording artists R.L. Burnside and CeDell Davis, and others.
Under the name Louie X. Erlanger, Sunny Lowdown performed as guitarist for the group Mink DeVille, during which time Mick Jagger called him one of his favorite guitarists. His guitar playing can be heard in many feature films and TV shows.
His latest release, Down Loaded, nominated for a 2018 Blues Blast Music Award, contains seven tracks written by him and five traditional tracks reaching back to bluesmen like Li'l Son Jackson, J.B. Lenoir, and Lightnin' Hopkins.
“It is soulful, heartfelt blues that takes its time and only says what needs to be said - not a word or note more,” the news release notes.
The Ice Cream Men are Ben Carr, drums; Luke Houk, bass; and Paul Nadeau, keyboards.
For more information, visit www.nextstagearts.org.